Salary distribution
Where California cooks, restaurant fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $38,160 and $46,960, with a median of $44,290.
Cooks, Restaurant in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 9 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $42,349. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 1 | $39,104 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $42,349 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $59,093 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Cooks, Restaurant in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kore Restaurant Group | Cook, Restaurant | 4 | $41,974 |
| Cyrus 2.0 LLC | Line Cook | 2 | $59,093 |
| The Progress Provisions LLC | Line Cook | 1 | $70,200 |
| ES Rich, LLC | Chef de partie | 1 | $39,104 |
| Four Kings Restaurant, LLC | Line Cook | 1 | $43,680 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Cook, Restaurant at Kore Restaurant Group$41,371San FranciscoDecided Nov 17, 2025I-202-25311-386207
- Line Cook at Cyrus 2.0 LLC$59,093GeyservilleWage Level IVDecided Sep 24, 2025I-202-25260-313756
- Line Cook at The Progress Provisions LLC$70,200San FranciscoWage Level IVDecided May 30, 2025I-202-25142-010450
- Chef de partie at ES Rich, LLC$39,104San FranciscoWage Level IDecided Apr 30, 2025I-202-25113-895829
- Cook, Restaurant at Kore Restaurant Group$42,349San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Apr 22, 2025I-202-25106-868804
- Line Cook at Cyrus 2.0 LLC$59,093GeyservilleWage Level IVDecided Jan 21, 2025I-202-25013-613558
- Line Cook at Four Kings Restaurant, LLC$43,680San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Jan 14, 2025I-202-25007-598588
- Line Cook at Kore Restaurant Group$41,600San FranciscoDecided Nov 6, 2024I-202-24304-442551
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Cooks, Restaurant specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 8 certified offers. The most common variant is Line Cook at a median of $59,093.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line Cook | Cyrus 2.0 LLC | 5 | $59,093 |
| Cook, Restaurant | Kore Restaurant Group | 3 | $42,349 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
No formal credential
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.1 / 5
Food Production
Knowledge
- 3.9 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 3.6 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 3.5 / 5
Near Vision
Ability
- 3.1 / 5
Manual Dexterity
Ability
- 3.1 / 5
Information Ordering
Ability
- 3.1 / 5
Monitoring
Cross-functional
- 3.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
- 02
Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
- 03
Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
- 04
Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
- 05
Turn or stir foods to ensure even cooking.
- 06
Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently, using methods such as tasting, smelling, or piercing them with utensils.
- 07
Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.
- 08
Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+14.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for cooks, restaurant in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$46,960
- San Francisco$45,230
- San Diego$45,040
- Los Angeles$44,700
- Sacramento$43,600
- Riverside$38,600
Compare Cooks, Restaurant pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Cooks, Restaurant in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in California is $44,290.
- How does California compare to the national median for Cooks, Restaurant?
- The California median is +18.5% versus the BLS national figure of $37,372.
- What is the salary range for Cooks, Restaurant in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $36,430 and the 90th-percentile at $54,690, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Cooks, Restaurant a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 14.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Cooks, Restaurant?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as No formal credential. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.